You are here

North Korea leader: Purge of uncle the ‘correct decision’

North Korea leader: Purge of uncle the ‘correct decision’

A photo provided by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, on March 29 signing an order putting rockets on standby after an urgent meeting with top generals. Kim said Wednesday that unity had strengthened “by 100 times” following the purge of “counterrevolutionary factionalists” — an apparent reference to his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was executed last month for treason. KCNA/Xinhua/Zuma Press/MCT

By Chico HarlanThe Washington Post

SEOUL — North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un said Wednesday that unity had strengthened “by 100 times” following the purge of “counterrevolutionary factionalists” — an apparent reference to his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was executed last month for treason.

Kim’s comments came in a lengthy New Year’s Day address and were his first since Jang’s alleged coup plot. Though Kim did not mention Jang by name, he did call the purge the “correct decision.”

Kim also said that the North must be more vigilant in stamping out dissent. He called for intensified ideological education among Workers’ Party members and citizens to “ensure that they think and act at all times and in all places in line with the Party’s ideas and intentions.”

“[North Koreans] should wage a vigorous struggle to stamp out any sort of alien ideology and decadent lifestyle, which may undermine our system,” Kim said.

The acknowledgment of potential dissent is noteworthy because Pyongyang for decades has used its propaganda to project a sense of unquestioned loyalty to the Kim family. Some analysts say that the North under Kim has abruptly abandoned that mythmaking, and is instead highlighting the punishment that will come to those who are disloyal.

Kim, who will turn 31 next week, assumed power in the North following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in December 2011. Jang’s removal represents the highest-level shake-up during his tenure, and experts are uncertain whether the move will help Kim consolidate power or bring further chaos.

Analysts who study the authoritarian nation say the annual New Year’s address provides some hints about the North’s policy goals — though there’s also plenty of by-the-numbers propaganda. Much of Kim’s address Wednesday focused on modest steps to improve agriculture and the economy. Kim also said a “favorable climate” should be established to improve relations with South Korea. Kim had laid out a similar vision one year ago, but volleyed Seoul in March and April with threats of a military attack.

This was at least the third time that Kim has delivered a speech to mark a major holiday. The approach contrasts with that of his more private father, Kim Jong Il, who ruled for 17 years and addressed North Korean citizens only once. During Kim Jong Il’s tenure, the annual address took the form of an editorial published by the main state-run newspapers.

For all of Kim’s talk about bolstering the economy, there was no mention on Wednesday about international trade or foreign investment — areas in which Jang had been heavily involved.

“It implies that North Korea is going to focus more on domestic matters,” said Park Hyeong-jung, a North Korea researcher at Seoul’s Korea Institute for National Unification.

South Korea’s unification minister told members of Parliament on Monday that the North was continuing to purge officials who’d been close to Jang. That group likely includes the North’s ambassador to Sweden, Pak Kwang Chol, who has been summoned back to Pyongyang, according to the South’s Yonhap news agency.

Last month, South Korean President Park Geun-hye warned the North may attempt an armed provocation, given the uncertainty of its “political situation.” Kim’s speech Monday was light on war rhetoric, but he did blast the United States and South Korea for staging military exercises, which he described as a rehearsal for a nuclear war against the North.

“Should another war break out on this land,” Kim said, “it will result in a deadly nuclear catastrophe and the United States will never be safe.”

Rules for posting comments

Comments posted below are from readers. In no way do they represent the view of Stephens Media LLC or this newspaper. This is a public forum.

Comments may be monitored for inappropriate content but the newspaper is under no obligation to do so. Comment posters are solely responsible under the Communications Decency Act for comments posted on this Web site. Stephens Media LLC is not liable for messages from third parties.

IP and email addresses of persons who post are not treated as confidential records and will be disclosed in response to valid legal process.

Do not post:

Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.

Obscene, explicit, or racist language.

Copyrighted materials of any sort without the express permission of the copyright holder.

Personal attacks, insults or threats.

The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.

Comments unrelated to the story.

If you believe that a commenter has not followed these guidelines, please click the FLAG icon below the comment.